Cruel Saints

“Who’s here?” She glances around the room and then at Madame Keller.

“Mr. Cotroni’s father was just assassinated. I assume they’re here for Lucian,” Madame Keller explains.

Elena’s eyes widen as her head snaps back to me. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry.”

“They killed my father.” The words drift over my lips, lost with disbelief. A relentless ache tears through my chest.

My mind begins to race, looking for answers to questions I haven’t even thought of yet. My heart hammers against my ribs, trying to get away from the ruthless sorrow filling every inch of me.

“They fucking killed my father,” I rasp.

I glance around the room at the other guests, some my allies and others my enemies, which makes me rein in the grief. A switch flips inside me, and it shoves the raw sorrow down to the darkest part of me. In its place, rage burns through me like wildfire. Letting go of Elena’s hand, I get up and bring the phone back to my ear. “You still there?”

“Blyad',” and then Alexei roars, “you better be in Madame Keller’s office! I swear I’ll fucking beat the shit out of you once I get my hands on you.”

“I’m in her office. I’m safe.” Or rather, as safe as I’ll ever be.

Alexei lets out a breath of relief. “Carson’s close. Just sit tight.”

I walk to the furthest side of the office and mutter, “Is it Cabello?” I need to know who I’ll be hunting. “Is he behind this?”

“I’m not sure. All signs lead to him, but I think he’s working for someone.”

“Who?” I demand.

“A fucking ghost. The person has covered all their tracks.”

Fuck!

Chapter 11

ELENA

Minutes become an hour, and all we can do is wait in Madame Keller’s office, which looks more like an armory. Cabinets, filled with every kind of weapon, line the walls.

At first, Lucian paced the length of the office like a caged lion. After a while, he stopped in front of the one cabinet, and he’s been staring at the guns ever since.

My tongue darts out, nervously licking my lips, and then I get up. Slowly, I walk closer to Lucian, not knowing what I’ll say or do once I reach him.

Stopping next to Lucian, he doesn’t move. His eyes remain trained on the weapons.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Lucian,” I whisper, not knowing what he’s going through.

Slowly, Lucian nods, and then he glances at me. For a moment, all I see is grief, and it makes me want to hug him, but then his eyes narrow. “Have you heard from your father?”

“No,” I answer honestly.

Lucian’s gaze snaps from me to where Madame Keller is sitting with a glass of wine in her hand, looking way more relaxed than I feel. “Any word on whether just my father was assassinated?” Lucian asks her.

Madame Keller holds up a finger, and I watch as she makes a call. She murmurs into the phone, and I can’t hear what she’s saying.

“You think my father might be dead too?” I ask, strangely not upset by the thought. God, as long as Dante’s dead as well.

The thought lifts some of the darkness that’s fallen around us.

Lucian shakes his head, and then he walks to Madame Keller as she sets the wine glass down and rises to her feet. I follow after him.

“Valentino is secure in his villa. There was no attack on him,” Madame Keller informs us.

Which means Dante’s alive. Damn. At least one good thing could’ve come from today.

“Interesting,” Lucian mutters. I watch as he dials a number on his phone, and moments later, his voice is filled with anger as he says, “Do you think you’re safe at your villa, Tino?”

My eyebrows lift when I realize he called my father. It has me shamelessly listening in on the conversation.

“Where the fuck were you when my father was killed?” Lucian asks. Seconds later, he snaps, “You better find out who’s behind the attack. Until then, I might just think you’re behind the assassination.”

Oh. God.

If Lucian thinks my father had his father killed, what does it mean for me? I instantly step away from him, and it has his eyes snapping to me. Slowly, he shakes his head, then he says, “I have Elena. I’ll keep her with me until you figure out who’s trying to kill us all.”

It doesn’t sound like I’ll be safe with him, not with the warning darkening every word.

Lucian ends the call then he tilts his head, his eyes locking with mine. “You’re leaving with me as soon as Carson gets here.”

“What?” I gasp. “Leave? Where?”

A two-way radio crackles, and then a voice says, “It’s safe. The grounds have been secured.”

“Thank God for small mercies,” Madame Keller mutters, and then she gestures to the guards by the door. They open it, and not wasting time, I walk away from Lucian.

I don’t know where I plan on going. If I stay here, I’ll end up being taken by Lucian. If I leave… I might just get killed right outside the gates of St. Monarch’s.